Playground device



March 21, 1933. w. E. HASKELL 1,901,

PLAYGROUND DEVICE Filed Jan. 13 1952 INVENTOR.

"@40 whum [5H4 SKELL BY @444 M ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 21, 1933 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM E. HASKEL'L, 01' SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS PLAYGBDUND DEVICE Application fled January 18, 1932. Serial No. 586,811.

My invention relates to playground de vices, and has as its principal object the provision of a device which will give a greater range and freedom of choice in the character 6 of play and exercise, to a relatively large number of children using the structure, than playground devices now available. A fur ther object is to provide a device which shall be sufliciently simple in construction to permit its use in private play yards and permit of manufacture at a relatively small cost.

Other and further objects will be apparent from the following specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a structure embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a planview of the structure shown in Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail view substantially on line 33 of Fig. 1 showing one manner of securing the parts together;

Fig. 4 is a side view of an alternative form of structure;

Fig. 5 is a detail view substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 5; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views showing two modified forms of sliding members.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 designates a, generally conical or frustro-conical frame, 3 constructed of members 2 which are inclined toward a common point and connected at intervals by horizontal members or rungs 3 forming in eflect a plurality of juxtaposed inclined ladders. A vertical member such as a rigid pole 5 is positioned centrally within the frame 1 and supported therefrom by curved arms 6 which are secured at the upper ends of certain of the inclined members 2, arms 6 being spaced sufficiently to permit access to the upper portion of pole 5 from the top of all of the ladders. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, there are twelve inclined members 2 and four arms 6, the latter being equally spaced around pole 5, one being secured to the upper end of every third inclined memher. The parts may be formed of metal piping held in assembled relation in any su1table manner. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the inclined members 2 comprise continuous lengths of pipe to which castings 10 are secured by bolts 11 passing through the castings and members 2.

Castings 10 are provided intermediate their ends with arcuate seats 12 engaging the faces of the members 2 and at each end with dowels 13. The horizontal members or rungs 3 are also formed of piping, the ends of rungs being telescoped over dowels 13 and held in place thereon by pins 14. The arms 6, also formed of piping, are held in place at their I upper ends by dowels 15 formed on a casting 16 and engaging in the ends of the arms, pins 17 securing the arms to the dowels. Casting 16 is provided on its under side with a recess 18 in which the upper end of pole 5 fits and in which it is held by a pin 19. The castings 20, which hold the upper tier of rungs to those of the inclined members to which the lower ends of arms 6 are also attached, are provided, in addition to the dowels to which the rungs are secured, with upright dowels 22 over which the lower ends of arms 6 are telescoped, and held therein by pins 23. and with downwardly extending dowels 24 pinned in the ends of the inclined members. It will be understood that while I have shown the members 3, as curved, thus giving a curved surface to the frame, the rungs may equally well be straight if desired, giving the frame the form of a pyramid, and the term conical is intended and herein used to include either form.

In Fig. 4 is shown a modified form of construction in which the inclined members, eight in number, are formed of wood and are 5 substantially rectangular in cross section. Every other inclined member, as 25, is continued to a point of engagement with a rectangular block 26 to which they are secured as by lag screws 27 Block 26 is formed integral with or suitably secured to a center pole 28. The intermediate inclined members 30 are sufiiciently shorter than members 25 to give access to a pole 28 from the top of the laddcrs formed by horizontal rungs 31 which connect members 25 and 30 at suitable intervals. As shown in Fig. 5, the ends of rungs 31 fit into holes 32 formed in the inclined members and are held therein by pins or screws 33 passing transversely through the inclined members and the rungs.

While the manners of construction shown in the drawing have certain advantages in economy of manufacture, it will be understood that broadly my invention resides in the general arrangement of the parts independently of any specific manner of securing the assembly together. My general arrangement has many advantages. The climbing surface presented by the horizontal members is entirely inclined, affording greater safety than where the climb is vertical. In addition to the upward climb, the horizontally adjacent rungs present a pluralit of generally circular paths along which t e children can chase each other around and over the device. The center pole presents an opportunity in a game of tag to quickly gain the ground from the top of any of the ladders by sliding down the pole. The slide down the pole may be the object of the climb.

The interior of the structure is unobstructed except by the center pole givin an oppor tunity for swinging from any 0 the rungs of suflicient height from the ground to accommodate the size of the particular child. While the rungs are spaced to accommodate the climbing requirements of a child of average size, the device furnishes entertainment for children of widely different sizes, since the ease of the climb does not affect the fun of the slide down the pole or the circular travel around the device, and in the unobstructed interior the child can find a bar to swing from suited to his particular height.

My invention thus provides a structure capable of furnishing a wider ran e of entertainment to a wider range of chil ren than prior devices, and is inducive of a faster and more vigorous play.

The generally conical shape of the structure prevents any tendency for the device to overturn, and it is not, therefore, necessary for that reason to anchor the inclined members to the ground; and in smaller structures for use in private yards the resulting portability is of distinct advantage. Where permanency of position is desirable, as in locating the device in an allotted space in a public playground, or for other reasons, the inclined members may be set in concrete or otherwise anchored. The center pole may be omitted, if desired, and when used is preferably held at its base against sidewise movement in any suitable manner, as by inserting it a short distance in the ground, as indicated at 40 in Fig. 4, or, if the pole is in the form of a pipe, telescoping it over a peg driven in the ground as indicated at 41 in Fig. 1. Where the central sliding member is made of flexible material such as a ro e 45 (see Fig. 6), the lower end may be llzft free to permit swinging, or the sliding member may be made in the form of a pole 46 freely suspended from the cap block 26 (see Fig. 7) by a hinge or swivel 47.

Man changes in structure and form may be ma e within the scope of my invention, and it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific forms and structures herein illustrated.

What I claim is:

1. A playground structure comprising a substantially vertical pole-like member, a frame operably connected to and surrounding said member and so positioned with re spect to said member as to afford a plurality of paths to the top of said member, said frame being spaced from said member to afford a rapid unobstructed descent on said member from the top of the frame wholly within the confines of the frame.

2. A playground structure comprising a substantially vertical pole-like member, a hollow ladder-like frame operably connected to and surrounding said member and so positioned with respect to said member as to afford a plurality of paths to the top of said member, the sides of the frame being spaced from said member to afford a rapid unobstructed descent on said member from the top of the frame wholly within the confines of the frame.

3. A playground structure comprising a substantially vertical pole-like member, a hollow generally conical ladder-like frame operably connected to and surrounding said member and having an opening at the top, said pole-like member being so positioned with said opening as to provide access to said member from the top of the frame, the sides of the frame being spaced from said member to afford a rapid unobstructed descent on said member from the top of the frame wholly within the confines of the frame.

4. A playground structure comprising a substantially vertical pole, a hollow generally conical ladder-like frame surrounding the pole, members connecting the frame to the upper end of the pole, said members being spaced to form openings providing access to the pole, the sides of the frame being spaced from the pole to afl'ord a rapid unobstructed descent on the pole from the top of the frame wholly within the confines of the frame.

5. A playground structure comprising a substantially vertical pole, inclined members and horizontal members forming a hollow generally conical ladder-like frame surrounding the pole, a portion of the inclined members being extended beyond the others and secured at the upper ends to the pole, the spaces between the so extended members providing access to the pole, the sides of the frame being spaced from the pole to afford a rapid unobstructed descent on the pole from the top of the frame Wholly within the confines of the frame.

In testimony whereof I have eflixed my signature.

WILLIAM E. HASKELL. 

